How can United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool rule Europe again? The fans give their views...

08 Apr 2010 22:11:06

There are no Premier League sides in the last four of the Champions League for the first time in seven years. Is this just a blip or is the start of the decline of England's dominance of the European Cup?
Sportsmail asked the fans what they think...
No panic: Jamie Murray
JAMIE MURRAY (Tennis player, Man Utd)
England have had a finalist in the past five years so its hardly a cause for panic.But Premier League clubs struggle to attract the best Spanish, Italian and South American players probably due to climate, lifestyle and culture changes.
I also think it's unhealthy for the national team that most clubs tend to look towards players from overseas, which limits opportunities for homegrown players.
KEITH FORD (Chelsea)
The refereeing needs to be better! We have had trouble with them in the past two years. If Jose Mourinho came to a club like Liverpool, it would definitely make adifference too but we really don't want that to happen.
RICHARD ROWLATT (Liverpool)
The English system might give results in the short term, but just isn't sustainable clubs are so crippled with debt that their world is collapsing around them. It's time toforce out megalomaniac businessmen looking for a fast buck and get power back to the fans like at Barcelona.
MICKEY WALLACE (Arsenal)
We need to lower the income tax rate for high earners. Clubs in England are having to pay far more in wages to match Spanish clubs because it is higher over here. A few years ago a player like Franck Ribery would have come to England.
Now, there is little chance of that. Also flair players don't want to come to a league where teams like Stoke and Bolton hack them to pieces. Refereeing needs to bestronger on this.
BERNIE KINGSLEY (Tottenham)
Stop spouting propoganda that the Premier League is 'the best league in the world' when it's been as unhealthily dominated for most of the past 10 years as the Old Firmstranglehold in Scotland we used to laugh at. And persuade the next government to annex Catalonia as an English county.
MARK TATTERSALL (Man City)
Brazil and Argentina have been churning out the best players in the world for years but we rarely see them in England because of the language barrier. We need more Spanish and Portuguese managers to make them feel at home. Imagine howgood Robinho could have been.
Time for change: John Westwood
JOHN WESTWOOD (Mr Portsmouth)
Ithink it's time we placed a limit on the number of overpaid foreignplayers. That's affecting the production line for England and while theforeigners may have talent, they don't have the same passion orunderstanding of the English game and its fans.
MATT CUTLER (Aston Villa)
The Premier League is guaranteed to be the richest league in the world for at leastthe next five years or so and will still attract the biggest names. We still had as many teams as anyone in both the round of 16 and quarter-finals of the ChampionsLeague. Two English teams in the Europa League quarter-finals hasn't happened since 1999-00.
DEEPAK PATEL (Fulham)
Players need to be fresher at this crucial time of the season. Either cut the league down to 18 teams so there are fewer games or give us a winter break, like they get in Spain.
PETER SANDS (Newcastle)
Chelsea's squad is too old, United have failed to invest their Ronaldo money and Arsenal's youngsters lack experience and a quality striker and goalkeeper. The changes, to players and managers, in the summer will be crucial in dictating whether we re-establish supremacy or slip further behind. Perhaps managers should come and talk to Newcastle about how to handle Barcelona. We are, after all, one of the few English clubs to have got the measure of them!
ALEX BRODKIN (Sheffield Wednesday)
Top English teams are over-dependant on one player (Rooney, Drogba, Torres,Fabregas) unlike more balanced teams such as Bayern, Inter and Lyon. They need to create teams rather than rely on individuals.
JOE DINCHERS (Wolves)
The Big Four squads are either ageing, thin or both, and they need to strengthen. Also, the approach to ownership needs to change. These clubs will only be treated as cash cows as long as they're winning.
NICK WOOD (Leeds United)
I think there should be a salary cap like in Super League. Then coaching would come back into fashion and it would be about the best technique rather than the most money.
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